cognitive approach - methodology

Question 1

laboratory experiment

Answer 1

Experiments carried out in an artificial, controlled setting. The setting is unnatural for PP. The IV is manipulated in some way, usually two conditions+

Question 2

field experiment

Answer 2

experiment is carried out in a ‘field’ i.e. in the natural setting of the PP e.g. a school for teachers or pupils participating or hospital for medical staff. They are still in control of laboratory experiment included, but these might be difficult to put into place.

Question 3

experimental hypothesis

Answer 3

this is the alternative to the null hypothesis; that there is a difference as predicted. i.e words from a themed list are better recalled than random words; therefore null hypothesis can be rejected.

Question 4

directional hypothesis (one-tailed)

Answer 4

the direction of the difference is predicted i.e. if hypothesis is that ‘words from a list with a theme are better recalled than random words on a list’, there is a direction stated - that themed words will be better recalled.

Question 5

non directional hypothesis (two tailed)

Answer 5

Where the direction of the hypothesis is not predicted ie. there is a difference on the recall of words from a list depending on whether the words are themed or random. This does not five us a direction as to which will be recalled better, just that there will be a difference.

Question 6

null hypothesis

Answer 6

there is no significant different

Question 7

operationalisation

Answer 7

making something measurable and clear. The test of recalling themed or random words on list have to be measured; they r recorded

Question 8

participant design examples

Answer 8

independent measures
repeated measures
matched pairs

Question 9

independant measures

Answer 9

each group is independent of the other with regard to the people doing the study. One group recalls themed words, another recalls random words

Question 10

repeated measures

Answer 10

the same pp’s are involved in all the conditions.

Question 11

matched pairs

Answer 11

different Pp’s in different condition as in independent groups but pp’s are matched in terms of age, gender, experience etc.

Question 12

order effects

Answer 12

Problems that might occur when the same people are doing all conditions. PP’s responses in the various conditions are affected by the order of conditions to which they were exposed.

Question 13

practice effects

Answer 13

having done one of the tasks the pp does the next one better because of having had practice.

Question 14

fatigue effects

Answer 14

having done one task the pp does the next one less well because of being tired/bored

Question 15

Independent variable

Answer 15

the variable that the researcher changes to see the effect on the dependent variable. e.g. test in recall (DV) the researcher changes the conditions into themed words or random words to see if they have an effect on recall.

Question 16

dependent variable

Answer 16

the variable that is measured to see the effect of the IV. i.e recall (DV) was found better with themed words than random words (IV’s)

Question 17

counterbalancing

Answer 17

a way to avoid order effects: alternate the order in which the participant does the conditions

Question 18

randomising

Answer 18

a way to avoid order effects: chose at random which task the participant will do first. Toss a coin.

Question 19

Experimental control

Answer 19

an experiment should have control over the many variables that may affect the results of the study. Some variables are easier to control than others.

Question 20

Extraneous variables

Answer 20

these are any variables that can influence the findings in a study except the independent variable. Sometimes the variable can influence the dependent variable and confound the result.

Question 21

confounding variables

Answer 21

this is a factor that has not been controlled and has an impact on the findings of the study.

Question 22

situational variables

Answer 22

variables in the situation such as noise, light, temperature might affect results if they are in different conditions

Question 23

participant variable

Answer 23

variables in the participant such as mood, hunger, age, gender might affect the results if they are in different conditions

Question 24

participant variable

Answer 24

variables in the participant such as mood, hunger, age, gender might affect the results if they are in different conditions

Question 25

ecological validity

Answer 25

how well the study reflects a natural situation. Results can be ‘abnormal’ if experiment carried out in a highly artificial environment. Field and natural experiments have ecological validity as they are conducted in natural surroundings.

Question 26

construct validity

Answer 26

the extent to which the test measures what it claims to measure e.g. recalling a list of words might be useful measure of episodic memory because a pp may draw on semantic memory and make a good guess

Question 27

predictive validity

Answer 27

the extent to which results from test can predict future behaviour e.g. test of intelligence can predict future academic success.

Question 28

internal validity

Answer 28

extent to which outcome of study is a direct result of the independent variable. Internal validity can be ensured by using standardised procedures, controlling for order effects and individuals differences avoiding demand characteristics

Question 29

external validity

Answer 29

the extent to which the findings apply to other people and situations

Question 30

experimenter effects

Answer 30

these are things such as tone of researcher’s voice, clothes worn, gender, age - they must be controlled if the experiment is to be truly objective and reliable.

Question 31

demand characteristics

Answer 31

when characteristics of a questions or features of a study gives clues to the respondent about the answers expected. Questions need to be subtle and hide true intentions.

Question 32

objectivity

Answer 32

the study is not biased because of the researcher giving their own opinions or influencing the results

Question 33

reliability

Answer 33

getting the same results again if the study is repeated. To test for reliability, there needs to be replicability.

Question 34

validity

Answer 34

measuring what you claim to measure, meaning that what you measure is ‘real life’ and not forced because of the study’s methodology.

Question 35

strength of lab experiment

Answer 35

good control = valid results
cause and effect can be established

Question 36

strength of field experiment

Answer 36

high ecological validity - take place in natural setting

Question 37

type I error

Answer 37

null hypothesis wrongly rejected

Question 38

type II error

Answer 38

null hypothesis wrongly accepted

Question 39

inter-rater reliability

Answer 39

when more than one pp rates the behaviour and their ratings are compared - if there is an agreement between ratings, its reliable

Question 40

strength of repeated measures

Answer 40

• pp do all conditions so pp’s variabes (features of pp that might affect results) are controlled. Each pp does all the conditions so any features will affect all conditions and will therefore cancel out

Question 41

weakness of repeated measures x2

Answer 41

• order effects which may cause bias and drawing wrong conclusions e.g. practice and fatigue effects
• demand characteristics when pp’s responses are affected by guessing what study is about

Question 42

strength of independent groups

Answer 42

no order effects and less demand characteristics

Question 43

strength of matched pairs

Answer 43

• pp do all same conditions
• more data gathered as each person does all conditions

Question 44

weakness of independent groups

Answer 44

more pp are needed because different people do different conditions which means samples take longer to obtain and may be more costly

Question 45

weakness of matched pairs

Answer 45

• order effects
• demand characteristics

Question 46

criteria for spearmans rho

Answer 46

test of relationship between two co-variables
at least ordinal data

Question 47

criteria for man whitney u

Answer 47

test of difference between 2 conditions
ordinal data
independent groups

Question 48

criteria for wilcoxon

Answer 48

test of difference
ordinal data
repeated measures/matched pairs

Question 49

criteria for chi sqaured

Answer 49

test of difference
nominal data
independent measures